He gave a husky laugh. ‘I asked you first.’
She shrugged. ‘It’s okay.’
‘You look fantastic’
‘Meaning I don’t usually?’ she teased. Matthew Jarvis was a man in his mid-thirties, very good-looking in an obvious sort of way, dark-haired, blue-eyed, and yet he left her cold, like every other man she had met the last two years. No man could touch her now. Except…Leon Masters had briefly got through the shell she had erected about her emotions—and she didn’t like him any the more for doing so.
‘Hey, you know I didn’t mean that. You just look different tonight.’
Helen grimaced. ‘I borrowed one of Jenny’s dresses.’
‘And it looks great on you. Where is your lovely cousin tonight—My God!’ he had obviously seen Jenny. ‘What’s she nearly got on?’
She couldn’t help laughing at his expression, a light tinkling sound that caused many heads to turn in their direction, including Jenny’s and the man who stood at her side. Jenny grinned, waving to them both, and Helen smiled back, the smile fading as she saw Leon Masters was looking at her too. She met th
at look for several long seconds before turning away.
‘It suits her,’ she answered Matt.
‘I know it suits her, I just don’t like it.’
Helen frowned. ‘Does it matter what you like?’
‘You’ve never approved of me, have you, Helen?’ he said slowly. ‘Why?’
‘It isn’t anything personal, Matt. I don’t like or trust any of your sex.’
‘That’s a challenge few men could resist,’ drawled a deep voice from behind her.
Helen spun round to confront Leon Masters, her cousin standing at his side. They had come upon them unnoticed and Helen resented his intrusion into her conversation. She looked the actor steadily in the eye, willing herself not to be unnerved by the warmth of his gaze. ‘Do you enjoy a challenge, Mr Masters?’ she asked coolly.
He shrugged, his gaze unblinking. ‘What man doesn’t?’
’This is my cousin Helen, Leon,’ Jenny introduced.
‘Cool Helen,’ Leon murmured softly, still looking at her.
His tawny eyes on her were starting to make her feel uncomfortable. ‘How did you guess?’ she asked.
‘It wasn’t difficult,’ he taunted.
She was starting to feel hot now. Why did he keep staring at her like that? Jenny and Matt might just as well not have been there for all the notice he took of them.
‘Let’s dance, Jenny,’ Matt suggested, obviously taking the hint. ‘We aren’t needed here.’
‘Good idea,’ she accepted, smiling into Helen’s shocked face.
‘Oh, but—’
A hand clamped about her wrist. ‘I’ll take care of Helen for you,’ Leon Masters said smoothly. ‘But don’t come looking for us when you’ve finished, we won’t be here.’
‘Watch Helen,’ Matt advised lightly. ‘The coolness goes right through.’
‘Is that true, Helen?’ Leon Masters asked once they had gone, moving to stand in front of her, his closeness blocking out the rest of the room.
‘The name is West,’ she said tightly, aware of the tangy smell of his aftershave and a much more potent smell, a totally male aroma that attacked the senses. Or at least it would have done if she weren’t totally immune to all men. ‘Mrs West.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Your cousin didn’t tell me you were married.’